The Lincoln Lawyer (TV series)

The Lincoln Lawyer (TV series)
The Lincoln Lawyer is an American legal drama television series created for television by David E. Kelley and developed by Ted Humphrey, based on the books of Michael Connelly. It stars Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller, a defense attorney in Los Angeles who often works out of a chauffeur-driven Lincoln Navigator. Neve Campbell, Becki Newton, Jazz Raycole, Angus Sampson, and Christopher Gorham also star.
The first season is based on Connelly's 2008 novel The Brass Verdict, a sequel to his novel The Lincoln Lawyer. It premiered on Netflix on May 13, 2022. It received generally positive reviews from critics. In June 2022, the series was renewed for a second season. It is based upon Connelly's 2011 novel, The Fifth Witness (the fourth book in The Lincoln Lawyer series), and it streamed in two parts. The first part was released on July 6, 2023, and the second released on August 3.
In August 2023, the series was renewed for a third season.
Premise
Lawyer Mickey Haller works in the back of his Lincoln Navigator as he takes on cases in Los Angeles. As in Connelly's books, Haller is a Lincoln afficianado; he owns several and is often seen driving a 1963 Lincoln Continental four-door convertible.
Cast
Main
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as Mickey Haller, a criminal-defense lawyer and recovering addict.
Adan James Carillo as young Mickey Haller (season 1)
Gabriel Negret as young Mickey Haller (season 2)
Neve Campbell as Maggie McPherson, Mickey's first ex-wife and a criminal prosecutor.
Becki Newton as Lorna Crane, Mickey's second ex-wife and his legal aide.
Jazz Raycole as Izzy Letts, a former addict and client of Mickey in an insurance fraud case and now working as his personal driver to pay off her legal fee to Mickey.
Angus Sampson as Dennis "Cisco" Wojciechowski, Mickey's friend and go-to investigator and Lorna's fiancé.
Christopher Gorham as Trevor Elliott (season 1), a billionaire video game developer suspected of a double murder.
Recurring
Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine as Detective Raymond Griggs, a detective investigating Jerry Vincent's murder case
LisaGay Hamilton as Judge Mary Holder, the Chief Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court (season 1)
Jamie McShane as Detective Lee Lankford, a detective investigating Angelo Soto with Maggie (season 1)
Reggie Lee as Angelo Soto, a business owner suspected of utilizing slave labor; currently being prosecuted by Maggie (season 1)
Carlos Bernard as Robert Cardone, a District Attorney running for re-election (season 1)
Kim Hawthorne as Janelle Simmons, also running for District Attorney (season 1)
Michael Graziadei as Jeff Golantz, Deputy District Attorney and prosecutor in the Trevor Elliot trial (season 1)
Krista Warner as Hayley Haller, Mickey and Maggie's daughter
Lamont Thompson as Judge James P. Stanton, the judge presiding over the Trevor Elliott trial (season 1)
Saul Huezo as Jésus Menendez, an old client of Mickey's, whom Mickey encouraged to plead guilty despite believing he was innocent
Katrina Rosita as Tanya Cruz, Soto's girlfriend (season 1)
Heather Mazur as Carol Dubois, an insurance agent who had an affair with Jan Rilz (season 1)
Mikal Vega as Eli Wyms, a former marine and client of Jerry Vincent (season 1)
Mike McColl as Glenn McSweeney, Juror Number Seven (season 1)
Chris Browning as Teddy Vogel, leader of the Road Saints Motorcycle Club
Lana Parrilla as Lisa Trammell (season 2), a chef accused of murdering a real estate developer
Yaya DaCosta as Andrea "Andy" Freemann (season 2), a formidable criminal prosecutor in Trammell's case
Matt Angel as Henry Dahl (season 2), a true crime podcaster covering Trammell's case
Angélica María as Elena (season 2), Mickey's mother, an actress
Andrea Savo as young Elena (season 1)
Ilean Almaguer as young Elena (season 2)
Douglas Bennett as Pete "Kaz" Kazinski (season 2), a member of the Road Saints Motorcycle Club
Marlene Forte as Judge Teresa Medina, the judge presiding over the cases of Eli Wyms and Lisa Trammell
Elliott Gould as David "Legal" Siegel, Mickey's mentor and a friend of his father, a retired lawyer
Brion Bronson as young David "Legal" Siegel
Guest
Christine Horn as Joanne Giorgetti, Deputy District Attorney and prosecutor in Eli Wyms' case, also Hayley's soccer coach
Jeff Francisco as Alvin Aquino, a parolee affiliated with Angelo Soto
Paul Rae as Bruce Carlin, Jerry Vincent's investigator
Paul Urcioli as Jerry Vincent, a defense lawyer whose practice Mickey inherits
Jordyn Chang as Charlotte Yeoh, Trevor Elliott's receptionist
Shwayze as Terrell Coleman, a client of Jerry Vincent who Mickey sympathizes with
Mageina Tovah as Wren Williams, Jerry Vincent's receptionist
Kadeem Hardison as Detective Kinder, a detective investigating the murders of Trevor's wife and her lover
Katy Erin as Lara Elliott, Trevor's wife, who he is accused of murdering
Johann Urb as Jan Rilz, Lara's yoga instructor, with whom she had an affair
Puja Mohindra as Sonia Patel, a friend and former coworker of Lara
Jonathan Avigdori as Anton Shavar, a man running a private security firm whose ex-wife also had an affair with Jan Rilz
Camilla Arfwedson as Gwen, a poker player acquainted with Mickey
Darrell Dennis as Detective Kyle Winters, the detective in Jésus Menendez's case, a former protege of Detective Lee Lankford
Ramona DuBarry as Detective Linda Perez, an associate of Lankford and Winters who formerly worked as vice
Amelia Brantley as Cherry, a prostitute and associate of Gloria Dayton who also works as an informant for Mickey
Anthony A. Kung as David Loresca, an informant for Maggie in her case against Soto
Chris Gehrt as Michael Connelly, a reporter who wrote stories of Mickey's father. Connelly is the writer of the books upon which the series is based and worked as a crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times before becoming a full-time writer.
Jon Tenney as Mickey Haller, Sr, Mickey's father
Fiona Rene as Gloria Dayton, a prostitute and the key witness for Jésus Menendez's case
Christopher Thornton as Sam Scales, a fraudster and client of Jerry Vincent
Anna Khaja as Dr. Miriam Arslanian, a forensic expert and witness in the Trevor Elliott trial
John Cothran as Judge Wallace Canter, the judge presiding over Izzy Letts' case
Meera Rohit Kumbhani as Sarah Shepard, a deputy district attorney prosecuting Izzy Letts
Turhan Troy Caylak as Robert Holt, a witness against Izzy Letts
Bernie Kopell as Marvin Beedleman, a jeweler who is friendly with Mickey
Justene Alpert as Krisha Gold, a coworker of Jan Rilz
Julie Ariola as Judge Winifred Champagne, the judge presiding over Terrell Coleman's case
Eugene Kim as Ernest Choi, a deputy district attorney prosecuting Terrell Coleman
Paloma Esparza Rabinov as Kymberly Wagstaff, a repeat client of Mickey
Megan McNulty as Gina Russo, a deputy district attorney prosecuting Kym Wagstaff
Paul McKinney as Tony Walsh, a defense attorney friendly with Mickey
Christopher Amitrano as Dennis Byrne, a mechanic for the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department
Melvin Diggs as Deputy Murray, a sheriff's deputy who initially investigated Lara and Jan's murders
Andy Fong as Judge Frank Oh, the judge presiding over assigning bail to Angelo Soto
Gabriel Burrafato as Mike Pomerantz, Angelo Soto's lawyer
Michael Cory Davis as Ernie Quienero, a deputy district attorney prosecuting Sam Scales
Matt Orduna as Officer Alfaro, an LAPD officer
Bryan Michael Nunez as Officer Doby, Officer Alfaro's partner
Jill Johnson as Debbie, a citizen of LA
Melanie Benz as Neema Shavar, Anton Shavar's ex-wife
Chau Long as Ryan Lee, a former classmate of Lorna from law school
Chuck McCollum as Phillip, an employee of the restaurant owned by Judge Stanton's husband
Makeli Leonard as Misha, a player on Hayley's soccer team
Alex Lewis as Eric Loomis, a forensic technician for the LAPD
Jeremiah Caleb as Raj Chowdhury, a client of Gloria Dayton
Rudy Martinez as Julio Muniz, a videographer who recorded the arrests of Trevor Elliott and Eli Wyms
Gregory Gast as David Shapiro, Anton Shavar's lawyer
Bruce Davison as Judge Walter Abrams, the judge presiding over Jésus Menendez's case
Emerson Brooks as Ben Miller, a deputy district attorney prosecuting Jésus Menendez
Matt Kirkwood as Dan Daly, Linda Perez's lawyer. Daly is actually a real-life lawyer who went to college with Michael Connelly
Harry Zinn as Judge Christopher Eagan, the judge presiding over Angelo Soto's case
Carolyn Ratteray as Sarah Walker, an assistant United States attorney friendly with Maggie McPherson
Clint Carmichael as Mitchell Bondurant, a real estate developer who Lisa Trammell is accused of murdering
David Clayton Rogers as Russell Lawson, a new client of Mickey, accused of burglary
Sachie Alessio as Beth Sauber, a deputy district attorney prosecuting Russell Lawson
Richard Kuller as Judge Mortimer Lyons, the judge presiding over Russell Lawson's case
Paul Lincoln Alayo as Luis Castillo, former roommate of Jésus Menendez
Jason Matthew Smith as Harold "Hard Case" Casey, a member of the Road Saints Motorcycle Club
Brian McGovern as Dean Wheaton, the interim dean at Lorna's law school, formerly a professor who taught one of her classes
Darien Sills-Evans as Detective Howard O'Brien, the detective investigating Mitchell Bondurant's murder
Andrew Hawtrey as Officer Crimmins, a desk sergeant for the LAPD
Shelby Lee Parks as Rae, Izzy's ex-girlfriend and business partner, also a former drug addict
Joanne Baron as Margo Schafer, a witness against Lisa Trammell
Anais Lee as Angelica Coleman, Terrell Coleman's daughter
Carolyn Mignini as Judge Sandy Lockett, the judge presiding over Angelica Coleman's case
Brian Dare as Ernest Moore, a deputy district attorney prosecuting Angelica Coleman
Amy Davidson as Karen Foster, a witness against Angelica Coleman
Keong Sim as Walter Kim, a building inspector who worked for Mitchell Bondurant
Robert Horry as himself
Tiffany C. Adams as Detective Ginny Long, Detective O'Brien's partner, also investigating Mitchell Bondurant's murder
Elizabeth Anweis as Hannah Gates, a forensic technician for the LAPD
Conroe Brooks as Hansen, an ATF SWAT leader in the LAPD
Rudy Quintanilla as Gustavo, a tailor friendly with Mickey
Adam J. Harrington as Jeff Trammell, Lisa Trammell's ex-husband
Michael A. Goorjian as Alex Grant, a contractor and business partner of Mitchell Bondurant with ties to the Armenian Mob
Patrick Fischler as Jacob Zimmer, Alex Grant's lawyer
Miriam Flynn as Donna, a clerk working for the FBI who Cisco uses as a source
Hemky Madera as Agent Felix Vasquez, an FBI agent investigating Alex Grant
Damian Delgado as Sergio Beltran, a landscaper
Tina Arning as Valerie Stern, a long-time neighbor of Lisa Trammell
Ryan W. Garcia as René Morales, an employee of Lisa Trammell's restaurant
La'Charles Trask as Gary Furlong, a member of Lisa Trammell's jury
Kristin Carey as Jennifer Little, the owner of a property Izzy attempts to rent
Juan Monsalvez as Carlos, the manager of a property owned by Jennifer Little
Matthew Garbacz as Taylor, a part time worker at Hayley's riding lessons
Devon Graye as Julian La Cosse, a pimp and a new client of Mickey
Episodes
Season 1 (2022)
Season 2 (2023)
Production
Development
In 2018, David E. Kelley wrote a spec script for a television series set up at Epix by A+E Studios. When the script failed to move forward, he decided to work on a different project with A+E, ultimately adapting The Lincoln Lawyer after sharing his interests in working on legal dramas. In June 2019, the project was given a series production commitment by CBS. In February 2020, Ted Humphrey came aboard as showrunner and Kiele Sanchez joined the cast as Lorna, with Angus Sampson and Jazz Raycole joining a few weeks later as Cisco and Izzy, respectively. In May 2020, it was reported that the series would not be going forward at CBS due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
At the time of the decision, which CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl called a "tough call", two scripts for the series had been written, with two more in development, and Logan Marshall-Green had been in negotiations to star as main character Mickey Haller. On January 11, 2021, Netflix picked up the series with a 10-episode order, down from the original 13-episode plan, and announced that Manuel Garcia-Rulfo would star as Haller. In February 2021, Neve Campbell and Becki Newton joined the cast, with Raycole and Sampson returning to the series. Christopher Gorham was cast in March. In April, Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine was cast in a role created specifically for the series, with LisaGay Hamilton, Jamie McShane, and Reggie Lee joining the cast in recurring roles. Krista Warner was cast in May.
On June 14, 2022, Netflix renewed the series for a second season, which will be based on The Fifth Witness. On August 30, 2023, Netflix renewed the series for a third season, which will be based on The Gods of Guilt.
Filming
The Lincoln Lawyer began filming in Los Angeles on March 30, 2021. That same day, author Michael Connelly revealed on social media that the COVID-19 pandemic had previously delayed principal photography for around a year. On June 8, 2021, Connelly said in an interview that six out of the ten episodes had been filmed, of which three of them had been edited completely, while also confirming that characters in the Amazon Prime Video series Bosch, including Haller's half-brother Harry Bosch (portrayed by Titus Welliver), would not be making appearances as both shows are from different networks. Filming concluded on August 3, 2021. Notable filming locations included Admiralty Way in Marina del Rey, Spring Street in Downtown Los Angeles, Grand Avenue, the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, and Wilshire Boulevard.
Filming on season 2 was due to begin on October 31, 2022 and run through March 2023. Filming locations for season 2 included the Paseo Club in Valencia, The Cowboy Palace Saloon in Chatsworth, Sixth Street Bridge, and the Los Angeles Equestrian Center.
Lawsuit
In August 2021, A+E Studios subsidiary Frankl & Bob Films II, LLC filed a lawsuit against ViacomCBS for "millions of dollars" in losses after it decided to not move forward with the series the previous year. Citing the company's creation on December 4, 2019, the documents state that "after the merger, ViacomCBS's new leadership, led by [George Cheeks] had second-guessed CBS Network's decision to enter into the 13-episode series commitment," and that after finding it "was not valuable to ViacomCBS ... Mr. Cheeks and his fellow ViacomCBS executives decided that it would be better for ViacomCBS as a whole if CBS Network breached that commitment." The documents also claim that ViacomCBS rejected the series because the first episode had not been filmed and said "that breach ensured that the series would never make it onto broadcast television."
Release
The first season premiered on Netflix on May 13, 2022.
Reception
Audience viewership
By its first three days of release, the series finished #2 on Netflix's weekly ratings. In its first full week of streaming, it was the platform's most-watched English-language series globally, with over 108 million viewing hours, more than three times the second-place show. Between May 8 and June 5, 2022 the series was watched 260.53 million hours globally.
Critical response
Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 62 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
See also
The Lincoln Lawyer (film), a 2011 film about the same character
References
External links
2020s American legal television series
2020s American workplace drama television series
2022 American television series debuts
American legal drama television series
American thriller television series
English-language Netflix original programming
Television productions postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Television series created by David E. Kelley
Television shows about crime
Television shows based on American novels
Television shows filmed in Los Angeles
Television shows set in Los Angeles
Television series about prosecutors